“Whoever comes my way, I see Jesus in them.” I can’t take credit for the quote (anonymous), but I can say that when I think about those words, it makes me smile. My perspective has been to see love in everyone who comes my way. So, for anyone on the fence about Jesus, feel free to substitute the word love. Why would I be comfortable with such a substitution? Jesus can’t resist love. So if we are living life from a perspective of love, we are most certainly pleasing Jesus. If you are uncomfortable with the word Christian…
I’ve grown to realize that one of our shortcomings as humans is knowing how we are heard by others, whether we choose to be nasty or nice. We speak, and our emotions flow without reservation. Sometimes, without regard to how it is received by others, and without regard to how hurtful it might sound. I remember being surprised by someone who had no idea they were speaking to me harshly. Out of respect, I kept quiet. However, it is a lesson that stayed with me. I will never forget the tone that I heard or how it made that…
As I trust in Jesus, peace is present, and I am out of harm’s way. I am not eliminated from struggling or suffering. Nor am I sheltered from emergencies. But I have something that allows me to persevere through anything I am intended to experience. Some might call that faith, others peace, and some might choose to think I was born with an ability to see the positive. I simply choose Jesus. Knowing always that I will make it out of harm’s way if I give my trust to him, my intentions are good, and my actions are…
I was reminded how ordinary people doing everyday things can change the trajectory of others’ lives. That could go either way, positive or negative, but I am looking at how small things we do can make a powerful impact on how people feel and move forward in life. First, we have to be open to recognizing situations where we can be helpful. If I am rushing through life, worried about all that I have to accomplish, I will likely miss any opportunity to be helpful. When I slow down and live in the moment, I become more aware of my…
Despite living in a very broken world, there are ways in which we can live amongst the brokenness with joy and happiness. This month’s Path To Faith call highlighted some simple but not necessarily easy ways to move toward the light. I believe we all have a purpose, and I believe even in dark times there is light. We just need to know where to find it. These are not my original thoughts, but are things I believe are helpful to know for our journey. How do we surrender? Surrendering to Jesus is a stillness of the mind and…
Hindsight has been a valuable asset to me, and I have been very grateful for all that it has taught me. Although I don’t dwell on the past, it is nice, from time to time, to see the path I’ve taken and understand how life has been preparing me for my future. Sometimes it shows me that my decisions weren’t as difficult as I thought at the time. In hindsight, I see the issue much more clearly and how it should have been handled, partly because I’ve learned more, and maybe because I am removed…
If I were to live my life solely by the information I am provided, every step would be a struggle. The daily noise surrounding us is overwhelming, and the validity of what is presented to us is questionable at best. I process the information with great caution and attempt to fact-check anything I repeat or utilize in my life. Every day is a challenge, but it can also be full of joy, peace, and love. The unknown is scary, but not when you have the peace of Jesus. When opportunity comes my way, it is easy to see all…
Knowledge, I believe, is one of the reasons that I had been in the closet about the strength of my faith. I had nothing more to tell people other than that I believe. Personally, I had little knowledge of where anything came from, other than knowing without a doubt that it all belongs to God. Not once did that belief ever falter. I didn’t need to know all the reasons behind why I believed what I did; I just knew that it was God. My mom was rooted in church and in the Bible, but not publicly; she kept…
Arguably one of the shining stars of the Olympics was Alysa Liu, not only for her athleticism and artistry, but for authentically being herself. As one watched the Olympic Games unfold, it was evident that a movement was developing among the athletes. A movement that was positive, unified, grateful, and joyful for having an opportunity to live out their dreams. I have watched the Olympics throughout my lifetime, but I have never seen one athlete change the perspective of so many people simply by authentically being themselves. Alysa accomplished this, and the world saw her joy the moment she entered…
My mind suddenly turns a switch and, for that brief moment, wonders if anyone is watching. Of course, there are things where we desire privacy, which is understandable, and thank you. But what about all the times when we are about to cross a line of ethics? Turning my head left and right, questioning if anybody is watching my actions. Whenever those thoughts come into my head, I quickly move to analyzing what I’m doing. Why am I doing something that I have to ask myself if anyone is watching? It is a trigger for me, a warning, a…